By JARROD POTTER
DANDENONG’S power-packed roster found some desperately needed unity in its 92-72 win over University of Canberra Capitals.
While it was a slow start from the Rangers – waiting until the fifth minute of the first term for a Kathleen Macleod (16 points, 6 assists) trey to get on the board – from there on it was a game solely played on the Rangers’ terms.
With Cappie Pondexter (25 points, 4 rebounds) Penny Taylor (20 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals), and Macleod all finding top gear, Dandenong was able to show off the true capabilities of the list that took enormous work to recruit.
Pondexter ensured any Capital gains were quashed instantly as the Olympic gold medallist shot the lights out from beyond the three-point arc – hitting a pair of treys in a scintillating third-term as well as a number of long-range two-pointers.
Her work from the baseline and beyond also deserves immense credit as Pondexter masterfully dished off jumping assists to three-shooting team mates Taylor and Macleod.
It wasn’t all left to Dandenong’s finest to carry the workload as Annalise Pickrel (11 points, 5 rebounds) had one of her best outings in the colours – resiliently working to curtail Capitals’ centre Abby Bishop – while Aimie Clydesdale (4 points) was tenacious around the Canberra in-bounding and on defence.
The only concern for the Rangers was a leg-knock for Penny Taylor in the fourth term, which sent her to the locker rooms for treatment, but the Opals mainstay returned to the court to knock in a few more points to rub salt into the Capitals’ wounds.
For Rangers coach Mark Wright, finding that right mix of aggression and defence – pushing a blistering pace as Macleod, Clydesdale, Taylor and Pondexter all charged forward furiously off the turnover – was the pleasing outcome of the win as his players shone.
“We finally found our direction and now we need to replicate it week-in week-out… that’s what we have to do,” Wright said.
“I don’t think people understand that I’m trying to find out what these players can do and what’s best for the team.
“But clearly this team, if we can create turnovers and if we can get possession, is a team that can run and we have to go to our strengths.”
The win pushes Dandenong off the bottom of the WNBL ladder before a bye. Dandenong will host in-form West Coast Waves on Friday 5 December before flying up to Townsville for a preliminary final rematch against the Fire on Sunday 7 December.
